Walk in Bathtubs are often advertised as being a valuable aid for those with disabilities and those who are struggling with their mobility. They are popular with senior citizens who struggle to raise and lower themselves into normal baths, and also with people who have limited hip movement. There are a few things that you should consider before getting a walk in bathtub, however, to ensure that you get the best bathing experience.
Think carefully. Outward opening doors are often a better choice than inward opening ones, safety-wise, and ideally, you should look for one with no (or a very, very low) threshold and a wide door to make it easier to move around.
Medicaid has a program called "Community Transitions" which exists to help seniors move from a nursing home into a private home, and that program covers the kinds of adaptions that will help someone to live independently. The Community Transitions Program is currently available in 27 different states, including the majority of the West Coast.
There are another program called Home and Community Based Services, which may cover the installation of a walk in tub if the unit can be shown to be an environmental accessibility modification. Again, the cost of the tub and the cost of installation are not explicitly covered by such a program, but the wording of the rules means that it is often possible to get approval. If you are considering getting a walk in tub, make sure that you have approval from your insurer before you commit to the purchase. Walk in tubs are expensive, and if you agree to the purchase without discussing it with your insurer first, then you could end up stuck with a hefty bill.
It's a good idea for the person who is the intended user of the tub to try it in a showroom. For a young, healthy adult a walk in tub seems like a great addition to any bathroom, but they don't have the same kinds of mobility issue that the intended user does so they may miss potential issues.
Is the seat grippy enough to ensure that you won't slip off it and become stuck (this may only manifest itself as an issue when the seat is wet)? Is the threshold of the tub low enough to make it easy to get up and down from it?
When you find the perfect tub, it can be a huge boon for a person with mobility issues. A good tub will help you to stay mobile and active and will allow you to keep some of your independence when it comes to bathing. It can be useful for carers because it takes away some of the care load.
If you or someone you care about has limited mobility and struggles with a standard bath, then look into the idea of a low threshold shower, a wet room, or a walk in tub. One of these options could make your life a lot simpler, and help you to retain the independence that is so important to a high quality of life.
Speed of Filling
Remember that you should not open the door of a walk-in bathtub while there is water in it. This means that you have to enter the tub, close the door, fill the bath, wash, train it then get out. This means that you'll be sitting in the bath for a while waiting for it to load. Make sure you have good water pressure so that you're not sitting there for ages waiting for the bath to fill up around you.Speed of Draining
The idea behind a walk-in bathtub is that you can safely get out if you need to for a medical emergency. Unless it's a dire emergency, though, most people aren't going to want to flood the kitchen when they get out. Often, when you're pricing a walk-in bathtub installation, the salesman will tell you that a bigger drain will allow the water to flow out more quickly. While that's true in essence, the plumbing in your home will be a limiting factor.Think carefully. Outward opening doors are often a better choice than inward opening ones, safety-wise, and ideally, you should look for one with no (or a very, very low) threshold and a wide door to make it easier to move around.
Water Heaters
Walk in tubs often have much higher water requirements than their standard counterparts, and this means that you may need to purchase a water heater to go with them. This can add up to $2,000 to the expense of the installation. Make sure that you thoroughly discuss the costs of the tub with the salesman before you commit to buying. With a good heater, a walk-in tub can be a valuable addition to any home, especially for those who are struggling to raise and lower themselves into regular tubs, but you do need to practice due diligence and make sure that you get the right tub.Getting Help With The Costs
Getting a high quality and safe, walk-in tub can be expensive. The good news is that you can often get help with the expenses through Medicare or Medicaid. The rules are managed on a state level, and each state has their own policies when it comes to walking in tubs and "low threshold showers." Medicaid has a policy about 'durable medical equipment, and there is some ambiguity when it comes to what counts. In the main, environmental accessibility modifications are included.Medicaid has a program called "Community Transitions" which exists to help seniors move from a nursing home into a private home, and that program covers the kinds of adaptions that will help someone to live independently. The Community Transitions Program is currently available in 27 different states, including the majority of the West Coast.
There are another program called Home and Community Based Services, which may cover the installation of a walk in tub if the unit can be shown to be an environmental accessibility modification. Again, the cost of the tub and the cost of installation are not explicitly covered by such a program, but the wording of the rules means that it is often possible to get approval. If you are considering getting a walk in tub, make sure that you have approval from your insurer before you commit to the purchase. Walk in tubs are expensive, and if you agree to the purchase without discussing it with your insurer first, then you could end up stuck with a hefty bill.
Regaining Your Freedom
Walk in bathtub installations are a huge purchase, and the difference in design, quality, and accessibility of each tub can be huge. Not every mobility issue can be solved with a bathtub either. Some people who have conditions such as multiple sclerosis get around from chair to chair or surface to surface by doing a swing/slide or shuffle and that is not something that you can do from a wheelchair to a tub since the seat in the walk-in tub is below the level of the tub walls. As obvious as it may sound, you get into a walk-in tub by "walking into it." If you cannot walk, then the tub is no more accessible than any other bathtub.It's a good idea for the person who is the intended user of the tub to try it in a showroom. For a young, healthy adult a walk in tub seems like a great addition to any bathroom, but they don't have the same kinds of mobility issue that the intended user does so they may miss potential issues.
Is the seat grippy enough to ensure that you won't slip off it and become stuck (this may only manifest itself as an issue when the seat is wet)? Is the threshold of the tub low enough to make it easy to get up and down from it?
When you find the perfect tub, it can be a huge boon for a person with mobility issues. A good tub will help you to stay mobile and active and will allow you to keep some of your independence when it comes to bathing. It can be useful for carers because it takes away some of the care load.
If you or someone you care about has limited mobility and struggles with a standard bath, then look into the idea of a low threshold shower, a wet room, or a walk in tub. One of these options could make your life a lot simpler, and help you to retain the independence that is so important to a high quality of life.